Auburn Baseball Takes Game One 6-1 at No. 12 Tennessee After Delay

After a very unorthodox start to the series Friday night versus Tennessee Auburn took game one early Saturday. Auburn and Tennessee played the top half of the first inning Friday before the game got postponed to Saturday morning. Luckily, Auburn did some damage early headlined by a two-run home run from Ike Irish with rain pouring down. 

Samuel Dutton threw another gem as he has been doing all year, going 6.2 innings, allowing only four hits and one run on the day while striking out eight batters. Dutton retired 20 of the first 22 batters in the game.

“Dutton has been so consistent for us,” said Auburn Head Coach Butch Thompson . “Not only did he do another amazing job, but he got us into the seventh inning and what it allowed us to do was go straight to (Ryan) Hetzler. You have a chance to win at the end of the first game with Dutton and Hetzler throwing against a top-10 team and you do not walk a batter. That gives you a good chance to win on the road.” 

Hetzler came in and shut the door on Tennessee's lineup. Hetzler finished the game giving up two hits and striking out two with zero runs given up. 

When the game resumed Saturday afternoon, Auburn's offense got going via a pair of bunt singles from Chis Rembert and Cade Belyeu. The Tigers tacked on to their lead as Irish lined an RBI single thru the left side.

Cooper McMurray then added on with a solo shot in the 6th for his 10th home run of the year, then Chris Rembert followed with a solo homer himself in the 8th inning. 

Auburn's bats were headlined by Irish and  McMurray as well as  Rembert who all went 2-4 on the day with a combined five RBIs and three home runs.

“I’m impressed by both ballclubs,” Thompson added. “This has been challenging weather from the start. Both teams are just fighting for every pitch. I’m really impressed with the resiliency of our guys, even in game two.”